PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WUSA9) -- We have learned mandatory water restrictions will begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday in Prince George's County areas affected by a failing water main.

Officials say a significant portion of Prince George's County will be left without water for several days. The issue is due to a 54 inch water main that is beginning to fail and must be replaced.

The water main is set up with an acoustic monitoring system that can hear breaks in the pipe. WSSC says one more wire inside the pipeline broke overnight, however, the road to the pipe was finished overnight.

If you are wondering what a worst case scenario looks like, last time WUSA9 was at a water main break with this kind of same potential, it was March, along Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase. Water gushed as high as 30 feet, taking down trees and power lines, and adding to an already big inconvenience.

"Residents who live in the affected area, shown in red on the interactive map are being encouraged to stock up on water in preparation for loss of service during repair of the pipe. Mandatory water conservation for people in the affected areas will likely be imposed tomorrow afternoon," officials said in a news release.

The affected areas include Morningside, Hillcrest Heights, Camp Springs, Forest Heights, Temple Hills and Oxon Hill. Joint Base Andrews and the National Harbor are also impacted by the failing water main.

Officials advise resident to start stocking up with water and fill tubs. At 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, customers at a Safeway we visited said the store was running really low on bottled water. Managers there said more shipments were on the way.

Group Food & Friends says it will donate 1,000 gallons of water to clients in the area who will be without water. Each of the nearly 100 clients will get 2.5 gallons of water starting Wednesday morning, says Food & Friends. The group normally delivers meals to children and adults facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other ilnesses.

A spokesperson with the Prince George's County Office of Emergency Management said no hospitals are affected.

The National Children's Museum will be closed Wednesday through Friday due to the water restriction. The museum will not have water or HVAC service while the pipe is being repaired. Museum officials expect it will reopen on Saturday at 10 a.m. if water is restored to the county.

Joint Base Andrews will continue mission-essential operations only and are working towards ensuring the employees and residents of the Base with portable water, they said in a press release.

WSSC says they know this is a huge inconvenience, especially with the heat outside, but that's why they want to get the word out. If you know someone who lives in the area, especially the elderly, call them and tell them.